Folding or collapsible receptacle.



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, ARCHIE GL'AWSONQOF BOCKVALE, MONTANA.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

FOLDING; OR COLLAPSIBLE REGEPTAGLE.

' Application filed May 21, 1917. Serial No. 169,979.

To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, Anomn OLAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockvale', in*the county of Carbon and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding or Collapsible Receptacles, of which the following is a specification, reference being 1 had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in folding or collapsible boxes, crates, and similar receptacles such, for instance, as that shown and described in my prior application for patent, filed April 7, 1917,

Serial Number 160342.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide improved means for quickly and securely fastening the top of the box 1n positionwhen the box is either open ,or collapsed. 1

Itasamore particular object of the inven tion to provide vertical corner brackets fixed to the bottom and side sections of the box, and latch devicesonthe ends of the box top for detachable engagement with the brackets on one ofthe side" sections when the box isopen and for engagementwith certain of the corner brackets on the box bottom'when the box is closed, or collapsed, the box top in the latter position fitting between said corner brackets whereby it is held against "shifting movement. i

It isan additional object of my inven-i tion to provide improvements in folding boxes 'or crates as above characterized,

whereby such devices are rendered highly serviceable and convenientin' practical use, 1

1 to Fig. 1,the box being folded" or collapsed;

folded top. Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the bottom of the box, to the corners of which the angular, upstanding brackets 6 are secured. These brackets are Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the box Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the shiftable latch plate;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail perspective views of the corner brackets secured to the bottomand sides respectively of the box; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of thexfasteners for the box similar to those shown in my prior application, but are of the same height. The vertical flanges of said brackets extending longitudinally of the box bottom, are provided in theirupper ends with the slots 7. The sides Sand the ends 9 of the box or crate are pivotally mounted at their lower edges .npon theflanges of the corner brackets 6 disposed inwardly upon the box body in the usual manner.

10 designates the top of the box which is adapted to be detachably fastened or secured against movement relative to the other elements of the box structure either when the same is set up or when it is folded or collapsed. To the ends of each side section 8 of the box, the metal bracket plates 11 are secured said plates likewise being of angular form and the flanges thereof extending above the upper edge of the box section 8. The bracket flange which extends longitudinally of said box section is provided adjacent its upper edgewith a slot 12.

Upon the top 10 0f the box, at each end thereof and adjacent one of its longitudinal edges, the metal straps 13 are securely fixed, said straps at one of theirends projecting beyond the longitudinal edge of the box top and being formed with terminal1 hooks Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

14 which are adapted for engagement through the slots 12 in 'one'pair of corner brackets 11 when the box is set up, or in l the slots 7 ofone pair of bracket members 6 when thebox is collapsed or folded. A latch plate 15 is" also mounted: upon each end of the boxtop 10' and is shiftable transversely thereof. This latch plate is mov-.

able through spaced keeper'straps 16, the

ends of which are suitably secured to the box top, and each latch plate is provided upon its inner end with an upstanding lug 17 to limit the".sliding. movementz 0fthe plate in one direction: Each plate'lois also provided with an elongated opening 18 between the keeper. straps 16,. and .to said plate, at one end of the opening 18, the end of a leaf spring 19 is riveted 01- otherwise securely fixed. A metal plate 20-- is riveted. iuponxthe under-side of this leafspring and is provided upon one end with. an angular lug 21. The spring 19 normally acts to retain the plate 20. within the opening'lS and in the plane of the latch plate; Inthe use. of the present inventiomwhen it is"desired to use the box, .the.sides and ends are disposed in erect positions and held against relative movement by. any suitable. means. The. box top, 1.0. is 'then. arranged in position, the terminal. hooks 14; on the metal"l straps 13' beingjengagedz; through the. openings 12 in'one pair of the bracket mem--- bers l1. Theplate.20.is then.raisedby pull-z ing upwardly upon thelug 21 thereof and the latch plate 15 on eachiendof the .boxis; forcedjoutwardly so as to. dispose the. termianal hook 2,2;f0rme'd on the outer. end ofsaid plate .in spaced relation to the. longitudinal edge of the box top; Theltop is then lowered. into position upon the-upper edges of the side and end sectionsof the box: between' the bracket members 11. The. latch. plates; 15 are then forced inwardly so as to engage thehooks 22 thereon in the openings 12 of.- the other pair of brackets 11.. The springpressed plates 20' will ride over the outermost keeper straps 16. and when therhooks 22 are disposed througlrthe. openings. 12, the

lugs 21 'on the plates 20 .will 'snapbehind said keeper straps, .saidplate fitting within" the opening 1 8 in the latchplate asabove described Thus, the casual OHlZWEII'Cl'ShlflT-i' ing movement ofthe latch plate 15 is effece tually preventedso that the boxtop IO-is; securely held inposition. p

In folding .or collapsing the box, the;-end$ sectionsare first folded inwardly upon the box 'bottcmand then the boxsections-folded in superposed relation upon said end secstions. The top IOListhenarranged in posi-I tion upon" the uppermost side" section,:. the; terminal hooks. 14c. onrthe. straps .13 beingengaged. through the. slots. 7 in one pair-of? able-latch platesengaged through the openingsin the. other. pair of corner brackets -6 in identically the same manner as above re ferred to, in the locking OfEthQbO X top when the box .is assembled in:condi-tion for use... The cornersof .the ,box topifit snugly between thelfiangeszof the brackets 6 so that said IboX. top. is ,held against all .ppssibility v of shifting movement and: strainsuppn the shiftablealatchi elementstanda their-appssibleas .festlv ofgreat durability.

While I have herein shown anddescr-ibed. 95

' ing position. the brackets 6 and :the hooks:22 .of theshift.

release from engagement with the bracket flanges, is obviated. As the plates 20, when in normal position, are disposed in theplane of the:-latch. plates-15 and ,the; lugs-"17 and 21 are very short, the possibility'of the spring-held plate 20 being accidentally .struck'andidisplaced'lsosas to permit of the shifting movement of the latch plate, 1s reduced to a minimum.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying a. draw ings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the present invention will be clearly andfully understood Whilel' have illustrated in -theidrawingqa certain construction of. the box, it is mania fest thatthe; fastening means for the. box. top is applicable 'to various other :construction'sof}: collapsible or foldable. boxes; org. crates. The" devices may. be. advantageously used upon. cratesor boxespmployedfor:the}; shipment of, chickens, eggs, .bread, and like commodities. .By. means of .my; improved fastener, theseveral parts .of the boxaw-ill-i be very. rigidly heldeither in theinerectpo eo sitions orin their compactedior folded posi-;- t1ons..- The: device is also.qu1te s1mple--.and: inexpenslve 1n its construction and 1112111171..

the preferred constructionand arrangement-. of the parts employed, it is to be understood m that I reserve the privilege :ofadopting all suchlegitima-te changes as-maybe fairly embodied within the spirit and scope rof the-1100 invention'asclainied- Having. thus fully' described my invene: tion, whatI desire .to claimandsecui'eiby .Letters Patentfl'is :1: V p I V 1.- Thecombination With'a boxha-ving a removable. top; of' a bracketrsecured to part of' the. box structure andthaving-a slot 1 therein, a shiftable latch plate mountedsupon a} the .box. top, spaced. guide, straps -foix said latch plate secured .tothebozrtop, said plate havingv a hook onone-end forengagement in the: slot of said bracket, vsaid plate being;

:further provided with. an. opening, andwa: springheld .member engaging sin-said open:

.ing'and having a part projecting above thev surface. of the: latch plate toccoact with one. s. z-

5 of the guide straps and prevent-:shiftingm:

movement of the latch elementfrom itSdOCk- 2. The. combination with la foldingI :box: having. .a. removable. top .ofvbracketssecured I to one part of the box structure; each bracket-11.

1 being. provided with a= slot;v shiftable latcha plates on the box top, spaced? guicle strapsy for. said latchplatessecuredto the boxwtop,

each-of-sa'id latch platesshaving; a hook -1. one end for engagement:inQtherslotJof. one; of the brackets, QZtGhtltttQh platebeing fur-: ther. provided with an opening,-

leafispringr...

and a plate secured to the under side of said In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my spring and normally disposed withln said signature in the presence of two witnesses. opening in the plane of the latch plate, said latter plate being provided with a lug on ARCHIE CLAWSON. ,5 one end to co-act With one of said guide Witnesses:

straps and prevent shifting movement of the ALBERT E. PLATZ,

latch plate from its locking position. DEAN A. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

